The Guide to English
When you’re talking, writing, or texting between friends, you can misuse and misspell words, or use the wrong punctuation. As long as your friends get your point, it’s usually ok. But if it’s going to be read by someone who’s not a close friend, you and your point of view are going to be judged on how you write. It’s the only reference strangers have. Most, if not all, writing and email programs have spellcheckers built in. Use them.
OTHER USEFUL REFERENCES
This is a really fast online dictionary. Down and dirty, and very handy. Put this in your browser’s Toolbar.
Dictionary, thesaurus, translation, medical terms, and much more. MW also has a Word of the Day (online and via email), Learner’s Word of the Day (to learn English), and many other features. Cool feature – it has audio files, so it will pronounce the word for you. Dictionary, thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Word of the Day (online and via email), Spanish Word of the Day, and much more.
Great site. They claim to have the largest collection of Internet acronyms and text messaging shorthand, in addition to thousands of definitions of words used in business, technology, and communication. Also Word of the Day (online and via email), Acronym of the Day. Cool feature – all content can be purchased as a book and a downloadable PDF.
Online dictionary of synonyms and antonyms.
This could be helpful, if it worked better. Enter a word, phrase, or concept, and it will try to give you the right word.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS
If you’ve been online, you’ve seen them all:
1. It’s and its
It’s – a contraction, meaning it is or it has. “It’s all the same to me.” (“It is all the same to me”). “It’s been a lousy day.” (“It has been…”). This is a simple rule. You only use the apostrophe when it is a contraction for it is or it has.
TIP: If you’re wondering whether or not to use the apostrophe, substitute it is. If the sentence comes out, “The dog got it is tail caught in the door,” take out the apostrophe.
Its – a personal pronoun, which shows possession. “The dog got its tail caught in the door.” Personal pronouns (hers, his, its, mine, ours, theirs, whose, yours) do not need apostrophes.
Its’ – there is no such word.
2. You’re and your
You’re – a contraction, meaning you are. “You’re going to take the trash out, right?” (You are going to take the trash out). Another simple rule: only use the apostrophe when it’s a contraction for you are.
TIP: If you’re wondering whether or not to use the apostrophe, substitute you are. If the sentence comes out, “Get you are feet off my desk,” take out the apostrophe, and use your instead.
Your – a possessive pronoun. “Get your feet off my desk!”
3. They’re, their, there
They’re – a contraction, meaning they are. “They’re going on a cruise.”
Their – a possessive pronoun. Jocks on the news always say the only way to win the Super Bowl is by playing their game.
There – a location. “Put that junk over there.”
4. Who’s and whose
Who’s – a contraction, meaning who is. “Who’s going to the game?”
TIP: If you’re wondering whether or not to use the apostrophe, substitute who is. If the sentence comes out, “Who is money is this?”, take out the apostrophe (and add the letter e).
Whose – a possessive pronoun. “Whose headphones are these?”
5. Loose and lose
Loose – not a tight fit. For many people, loose pants are the fashion.
Lose – to not have. Lose time, lose the race, lose your mind.
6. Affect and effect
Affect – these are a little trickier, because each of these words can be a verb or a noun. But in normal usage, affect means to change, and it often involves an emotional response. “Everyone was worried how her brother’s accident would affect Marianne.”
Effect – the result of that action. “It was easy to see the effect it had on Bob.”
TIP: As mentioned, there are other ways to use both words, but if you have to use them those ways, you probably already know how to do so. They tend to involve psychiatric, governmental, and legal writing (though not exclusively).
7. Sell and sale – I don’t know whether it’s just where I live, or it’s a function of people who use Craigslist and eBay, but I see these two words confused often, and I don’t know why.
Sell – a verb, meaning to offer something in exchange for money. “I need to sell fifty chickens in a hurry.”
Sale – a noun, meaning the act of offering things for sale. “We’re having a sale this Thursday on used Barbie parts.”